Hotel bookings up 4pc

The number of nights booked in the country's hotels, motels and other visitor accommodation jumped by 4 per cent to 2.7 million in the year to April.

A Statistics New Zealand report shows short-stay visitor guest nights increased by 105,006, with a 15 per cent jump in those booked by international visitors, which totalled 1.2 million.

Of the regions, Canterbury recorded the largest increase in guest nights (up 55,000), followed by Auckland (up 37,000) and Otago (up 19,000).

The biggest increase in international guest nights booked was from Australians, which jumped by 29 per cent to 80,000.

- NZPA